For new parents and grandparents, finding the perfect way to celebrate a child’s birth can be a meaningful challenge. Many look for something personal—something that honors the child’s name and heritage in a lasting way. That’s exactly what Steve Schaffer set out to create with J-Plaques by Steve, a custom woodworking business that brings Hebrew names to life in a unique and artistic form.
Steve’s journey into woodworking began decades ago, long before he ever imagined turning it into a business. “I took a woodshop class in high school, and we made all kinds of things,” he shared. “One of my favorite parts was cutting letters out of wood. I thought it was really cool.”
Years later, that passion resurfaced when his first grandchild was born. Wanting to create a special keepsake, Steve decided to make a wooden plaque with her Hebrew name. The finished product turned out well and sparked an idea.
“I realized that while there are plenty of woodworking businesses that make plaques in English, there wasn’t much available for Hebrew names,” Steve continued. “So I made a few more as an experiment, and people really liked them. That’s when I decided to launch J-Plaques by Steve.”
J-Plaques specializes in custom wooden name plaques that incorporate Judaic themes and symbols. Each name is placed over an image that reflects its meaning or personal significance.
“I try to make every piece unique,” Steve said. “For example, if someone’s name is Moshe, I’ll carve the letters over Mount Sinai. If it’s Adam, the letters might be over an apple. When my grandson Joseph was born, I made his name on a colorful coat, inspired by the biblical Joseph’s coat of many colors.”
Each plaque takes about a week to complete, depending on the complexity of the design and number of letters. Some letters also require intricate cutting. Despite the detailed craftsmanship involved, Steve remains committed to keeping the experience personal and collaborative.
“I love working with parents and grandparents to create something special. Each name carries deep meaning, and I want the final piece to reflect that. Whether it’s incorporating a specific symbol or adjusting the design to match a family’s vision, I make sure every plaque feels personal and unique.”
Creating a plaque is a meticulous process. Steve begins by sketching out the design, ensuring that the letters and imagery flow together. Once the layout is finalized, he carefully cuts each Hebrew letter from high-quality wood, sands the edges smooth, and assembles the plaque by hand. The final step involves staining or painting the piece to enhance its natural beauty and bring out the details of the design.
“There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a piece of wood and transforming it into something meaningful,” Steve noted. “From the first cut to the final finish, I put a lot of care into every step. I want them to not just look beautiful, but be something special to the child.”
Steve sees his plaques as a way to deepen the connection between a child and their heritage. By pairing each Hebrew name with a meaningful image, he creates something beautiful and rich in symbolism.
“A name is more than just a word—it carries history, tradition and meaning,” he said. “By incorporating symbols that connect to the name, I hope to create something that sparks curiosity and conversation. I love the idea of a child growing up seeing their name in Hebrew, surrounded by imagery that reflects their identity and heritage.”
Though J-Plaques is a new business, Steve is excited to see where it goes. For him, the joy comes from the personal connections he builds with each project.
“I never set out to turn this into a big operation,” Steve went on to say. “I just wanted to do something I love and share it with others. Seeing how much my plaques mean to people makes it all worthwhile.”
For those interested in ordering a custom Hebrew name plaque, Steve welcomes inquiries via email at [email protected]
Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at www.adamssoapbox.com.
